POC Omne Air Bike Helmet - Whether cycling to work, exploring gravel tracks or on the local trails, the helmet gives trusted protection

Product Information

The one thing I do wish this helmet had was a Virginia Tech score. This doesn't mean anything on its own, but helmets that have a test score from the independent testing facility allow consumers to compare their level of protection in an unbiased way. It's a nice added feature even when it just confirms what we already know. What really makes the Omne Air MIPS work as a gravel bike helmet is that it has a casual style that lends itself to the more upright position you often find on a gravel bike. That also works for endurance road bikes as well and POC has some very cool colours available. Stylistically you should be able to match a lot of riding.

All in all, my first impression of the POC Omne AIR is this: It brings all the comfort of the Octal to a more reasonable price, while providing a lot of the venting and a more neutral and stylish look, at a respectable weight. the helmet delivers superior levels of comfort, fit and performance, and features a host of safety systems, When you start your search for the best budget bike helmets you are going to want to start with safety first. That's the whole point of a helmet so it makes sense that you want something safe. Thankfully though, this is a pretty simple part of the buying process. What I haven't done, and you shouldn't either, is to cut corners. Any helmet available will have passed government-mandated test procedures. You have a guarantee of a minimum amount of safety but there's more to a great bike helmet. When you start looking for the best budget bike helmets you want something from a reputable brand.Rotational motion is a common cause of concussions in oblique hits to the head. In a crash, the Mips system is designed to move slightly inside the helmet to help redirect forces away from the head.

POC seems to have used more material to create a larger, more aerodynamic surface area which may account for the added weight in comparison to its competitors. The helmet has a claimed weight of 330g for a size medium, weighing in at 324g on our scales. Because the Ventral Air is the base helmet, the two designs are very similar. One of the things that means is that there still is no Virginia Tech testing to report. There is at least one new challenge that comes up with the Tempus version though and that is versatility. This is a very specialised helmet and it costs a lot. If you need it, you'll be thankful, but there is a price to pay. One way to approach the idea of budget is to look for a helmet that's highly versatile. If you commute by bike during the week and then go for longer rides on the weekend, it can be difficult to find the right helmet for both situations. A lot of people solve the problem by having more than one helmet. Bontrager has another idea though. A helmet that I did spend time with is the Bontrager Starvos. It's another WaveCel design and there's very little to complain about. In the end, the only reason it didn't make the list is because the Bontrager Circuit is very similar both in price and design while also adding the ability to mount lights when needed. If you like the idea of Circuit but don't think you'd ever use the magnetic light mounting then the Starvos is worth a look. Probably the first thing that comes to mind for most people is safety. That's why we wear helmets so it makes sense to consider it. Thankfully though, every helmet sold will meet the standards required for the place it's sold. We have a list dedicated to the best cheap bike helmets and we also have something for the best aero helmets, which tend to be on the expensive end, but no matter the price point your helmet will have the protection you need.Whether on the morning commute or a long weekend club ride, the Omne Air MIPS pushes you to go further. Optimal liner One of the basic tenets of an aero optimised helmet is that it's hot. At least that's what everyone believes. The reality is that modern aero helmets make use of exhaust ports to speed up the flow of air through a helmet by carefully managing the flow. Keep moving and a good aero helmet should never feel hot. Things change a bit when you stop moving though. As you, for example, climb a hill at slow speeds, there's not enough air flow to evacuate heat. It's in these situations that Swedish brand POC feels different. There are a lot of great features about the Giro Agilis MIPS helmet. Right away, as with most Giro helmets, it's relatively light. Budget helmets don't tend to match the lightest helmets on the market but at only 293 grams for a size medium, it's on the lighter side. That lightweight scale reading is even with extended coverage in the rear. Sweet Protection isn't as well known as some brands but the brand has been making high-quality helmets and cycling sunglasses for a number of years. You might also recognize the brand as the helmet partner to Pas Normal. It's the sunglasses connection that ultimately landed this helmet on the list though.

The Giro Isode MIPS is another helmet that narrowly lost out to a different helmet from the same brand. It's lighter and the style is a bit sleeker but for not much more money you get the option of adding a really good rear light. Once again if you won't use a light then the Isode will save you money compared to the Agilis. The Omne family of helmets performs impressively when it comes to performance, fit and ventilation and the helmet here isn't any different. At the 321g (300g helmet, 21g visor) it doesn't feel particularly heavy and the 360-degree retention system ensures a personalized and comfortable fit.Venting is pretty good, too, with noticeable airflow in particular on the forehead. It’s certainly not as airy as something like my Octal or a Giro Synthe road racing helmet (the two road helmets I wear most often), but I think it’s good enough for hard riding on a hot day. The helmet is, true to POC’s intention, also lower-profile and, in terms of aesthetics, probably more universally appealing than the Octal—I even got a compliment on it, and the comment, “Wow, that’s a POC?” It’d look natural worn with casual clothes, and for riding around town I’d much prefer it to the hot, heavy, skateboard-style lids often billed as commuter helmets. At the rear of the helmet is a charging port and on either side there is a power button for the integrated front and rear lights. The battery lasts a long time and you can decide if you'd prefer flashing or solid lighting. Beyond that, it's just a good helmet. It feels incredibly comfortable, even though it's definitely on the heavy side, and there is lots of coverage. That means it comes down farther but also that the peak at the front is a solid part of the crash structure and not just for show. Overall, the Rapha + Poc Omne Air Spin is a comfy, functional lid that also delivers on protection with the SPIN technology. Its slim profile fitted me snugly and makes it aesthetically pleasing too. You can get lighter MIPS/MIPS-alternative helmets at this price point and a little lower, but the Omne Air Spin is still pretty good value for money. However, if you often need to lower the spot where the two straps join together in other helmets, you might find this one doesn't have the right adjustability for you. Verdict If you were to dream up what form an aero road helmet would take, you might very well dream up the Trek Ballista MIPS. The big vents make it easy to stash glasses and more importantly, they keep you cool even on the hottest days. The style is reminiscent of a long-tail TT helmet and Trek goes so far as to say that it offers "very competitive performance among TT helmets." Trek even considered visibility as part of the visual signature and angled the front up so it's easier to see when you are down low in the drops. There's more to the helmet than the look though.

channels and a low weight inspired by our award-winning road cycling helmets Octal and Ventral deliver optimum Virginia Tech tests helmets from a wide variety of sports and has been doing so since 2011. No helmet brand is able to pay for better results and there is a standard testing protocol. If you do decide to keep an eye on the testing results of Virginia Tech, you'll need to understand what they mean.

Abus GameChanger 2.0 Mips

For those that like to stash their sunglasses during a climb, the Smith is one of the best. The caveat is that it's only workable if your sunglasses end in a thin arm. Also Tested